South Street Seaport Pier 17 BURNING!

A fire broke out at South Street Seaport Saturday afternoon sending hundreds of tourists running from the shopping area.

Firefighters used chain saws to remove planks of old timer to get to the flames that enveloped a 100-foot stretch of Pier 17 just before 4:00 p.m. Saturday.

About 140 firefights and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to the blaze, which was visible from Brooklyn.

Authorities believe the fire started underneath Pier 17; however, it’s too soon to say how it started.

It’s not immediately known whether anyone was hurt.